Guys, I'm scared and new to Hospice

aimeee, BSN, RN · Jun 26, 2006

You CAN do this and it is normal to be nervous at first. Don't be afraid to ask lots and lots of questions of the veteran nurses you work with. Make sure to support yourself with plenty of sleep, good nutrition, exercise, and some time for fun and replenishing your spirit.

dosamigos76, RN · Jun 26, 2006

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions so quickly. I think I'm beginning to see the importance of taking care of myself. My air conditioner was out on my car and I went a week w/o any.......I just didn't have the time or opportunity to get it fixed. My boss gave me the morning off and I was able to get it fixed. YEAH!!!! Just a little thing, but it sure makes a difference.

I am just concerned that I don't begin to know enough.......I don't want to let anyone down. They told me to expect it to be six months before I felt more comfortable and a year before I felt confident in what I was doing. That's a looooooooong time. I understand it with my head, it's my heart and my confidence that's the issue.

Thanks again, I really do appreciate your comments.

Cheryl

doodlemom · Jun 26, 2006

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions so quickly. I think I'm beginning to see the importance of taking care of myself. My air conditioner was out on my car and I went a week w/o any.......I just didn't have the time or opportunity to get it fixed. My boss gave me the morning off and I was able to get it fixed. YEAH!!!! Just a little thing, but it sure makes a difference.
I am just concerned that I don't begin to know enough.......I don't want to let anyone down. They told me to expect it to be six months before I felt more comfortable and a year before I felt confident in what I was doing. That's a looooooooong time. I understand it with my head, it's my heart and my confidence that's the issue.
Thanks again, I really do appreciate your comments.
Cheryl

Wow, give yourself a break! Let's say that you had been working in long term care for several years and got a job in a step down unit. I think it would certainly take you a good 6 months to feel comfortable. This is the same thing. Anytime you go into a specialty, you should expect to take a while to really feel confident in yourself. I can imagine that it is hard to fell not so confident in yourself but I'm sure you will do great!

LJLeach · Jun 29, 2006

Take it EASY on yourself...You'll do fine. Don't be afraid to ask a LOT of questions... (remember your other team members WANT you to succeed, otherwise their caseload increases).

One thing I've discovered in Hospice is that the biggest portion of it is relational. You become a part of the family. Listen. They want to tell their story. Use phases like, "Tell me about..." "What is it like for you ..." Open ended questions convey an active interest in what they're going through, and when the families sense that you REALLY care about them by listening to them, they give a lot a latitude for your inexperience.

God bless you, you'll do great.

aimeee, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2006

One thing I've discovered in Hospice is that the biggest portion of it is relational. You become a part of the family. Listen. They want to tell their story. Use phases like, "Tell me about..." "What is it like for you ..." Open ended questions convey an active interest in what they're going through, and when the families sense that you REALLY care about them by listening to them, they give a lot a latitude for your inexperience.
God bless you, you'll do great.

This is SO true. For many people it is like the dam breaking when hospice comes in and they sense they can finally talk about what they are experiencing with someone who understands.

saribeth · Jul 3, 2006

you will be super...the learning curve is never ending...I have been doing this for almost 5 years and there are always new situations that arise...the team is wonderful for brainstorming! Glad you got the air conditioner fixed

dmiller0702 · Jul 6, 2006

Hospice nursing is the most rewarding type of nursing I have ever done. A couple of things have helped me. First, stay close to the clouds with "silver linings". Next my religious faith teaches that mortality is the shortest part an eternal existance. I feel that a very special trust has been given to those who assist our fellow beings through a sometimes difficult, painful passage. There is a lot of hugging and crying in hospice nursing but also the realization that we have made a difference is the lives of those patients and family members we serve.

EmptytheBoat · Jul 8, 2006

The hospice experience should truly be a team approach and although you have probably been told of a team approach in each of your other nursing jobs (only to be find that is not usually the case) for you to be successful

in Hospice you will have to depend on your team. First of all, two weeks

of training with no previous hospice experience (or home health I presume)

is not adequate. Depending on circumstances, you may want to ask for more time, if not, you will definitely want to have your DON's phone number on your

speed dial and utilize it whenever you have questions/concerns.

It is most important for you to accept that you are not seeing patients to

cure/heal them, your job is to make them comfortable. You will learn how

to make them comfortable physically, just don't quit until you do,

compassion and persistance are your keys; comfort also includes social and

spiritual issues and this is where you need to depend on your teammates,

social worker and chaplain to help you and the patient. I believe the most

important member of the team is the CNA, a good Hospice CNA will make

you a good Hospice nurse, utilize and cherish them, and let them know how

important they are. Just a few suggestions to get you started, let us know

how you progress. Best wishes!

Jo Dirt · Jul 9, 2006

That's what bothers me, in a way I feel my patients are getting shafted because I am so inexperienced and I don't feel like I'm giving them the service they deserve. But I'm trying hard. Just makes me feel bad I can't do more for them.

dmiller0702 · Jul 9, 2006

It's okay to feel inadequate, and at times, helpless, but you are only one member of a team. My advice, for what it's worth, would be to focus on doing everything you can do as a nurse to give the finest nursing care possible then let the chaplin do his/her job, the social worker to his/her job and so on.

Death is a very individual thing. Some people simply fall asleep, others appear to struggling. It is our job to keep the patient the family comfortable and assist them in passing. In hopice nursing it is very difficult to become so close to the family and patients, especially if we have seen the patient go from looking and acting healthy to slipping into a coma. Again, we as nurse don't have to do it alone, we are only one part of a team.

dosamigos76, RN · Aug 1, 2006

Checking in with ya'll...

My very first patient of my own died peacefully last week. It was all that I had hoped it would be. The family was well informed and comfortable with all that had been done and have "adopted" me into their family.

I feel so honored and blessed to be doing this work. Last week was rough, I did several admissions and even got one lady no one wanted (She's active TB, on a vent, ESRD-just quit dialysis, 10 decubs, a feeding tube, wound vac, and NO DNR)......I wound up with 5 pages of orders and spent three hours over there today. It was AWESOME! I am learning so many new things all the time. I wanted you all to know how much I appreciate your support. I think I've figured out that when a patient of mine dies or I attend a death, it is going to be an odd/off day, but that's ok. Little by little I'm getting there, becoming the nurse I want to be. I feel proud of my work more and more......even with the setbacks of having to learn so much.

Again, thank you to everyone. :kiss

Cheryl